Freddie and Christine Sanders oral history interview, 2005 February 1

Description

Freddie and Christine Sanders reflect on what it was like to be students at the all-black Second Ward High School in Charlotte's Brooklyn neighborhood during segregation in the 1940s and early 1950s. They describe school dances, football games, and extracurricular activities at the school. Mr. Sanders also discusses daily life in Brooklyn and talks about his various jobs as a teenager and young adult, including working in local restaurants and at the Quail Hollow Country Club. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders talk about school desegregation and integration, which came well after they graduated, and describe what it was like for their children to attend integrated schools in Charlotte. The Sanderses' children attended schools close to home, but they describe how some students had to endure long bus rides because of new student assignments to achieve racial balance. During the interview, Mr. and Mrs. Sanders examine and discuss photographs from their time at Second Ward High School.

Freddie Sanders was an 74-year-old man at the time of interview, which took place in his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was born in Charlotte in 1931. He was educated at Second Ward High School, and was employed as a country club manager. Christine Sanders was an 71-year-old woman at the time of interview, which took place in her home in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was born in Charlotte in 1934. She was educated at Second Ward High School, and worked at Delmar Studios and at the Carmel Country Club.

Abstract

Freddie and Christine Sanders reflect on what it was like to be students at the all-black Second Ward High School in Charlotte's Brooklyn neighborhood during segregation in the 1940s and early 1950s. They describe school dances, football games, and extracurricular activities at the school. Mr. Sanders also discusses daily life in Brooklyn and talks about his various jobs as a teenager and young adult, including working in local restaurants and at the Quail Hollow Country Club. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders talk about school desegregation and integration, which came well after they graduated, and describe what it was like for their children to attend integrated schools in Charlotte. The Sanderses' children attended schools close to home, but they describe how some students had to endure long bus rides because of new student assignments to achieve racial balance. During the interview, Mr. and Mrs. Sanders examine and discuss photographs from their time at Second Ward High School.

Digital Object Notes

MP3 access copy created on ingest from WAV preservation master file. Interview originally recorded on analog audio cassette and digitized using Digidesign 003 rack.

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Grant Information

Digitization made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.